Ways to say it
| French | IPA |
|---|---|
| mentir | /mɑ̃.tiʁ/ |
| mythonner |
The primary way to express the act of telling an intentional untruth is through the verb mentir. If you want to refer to the untruth itself as a noun, use mensonge. There are several idiomatic ways to describe different types of lying: raconter des salades means to tell tall tales, while dire des mensonges énormes means to tell huge lies. For more informal expressions, you might use raconter des bobards to say someone is telling fibs or baratiner quelqu'un to describe sweet-talking someone. If you feel someone is treating you like a fool, you can say they are prendre quelqu'un pour un jambon.
Which one should you use?
While mentir is the standard verb used to mean to lie, mythonner is a much more informal, slangy way to express the same idea.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
In contrast, mythonner is a colloquial or slang term used to describe lying or making things up.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb mentir is intransitive and requires the preposition à when you specify the person being lied to. For example, you would use mentir à quelqu'un. The noun mensonge is derived from this verb.
How do you pronounce it?
Two syllables: /mɑ̃.tiʁ/.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not say mentir quelqu'un. English speakers often mistakenly omit the preposition, but you must always use mentir à quelqu'un to specify the person.
Did you know?
- The slang verb mythonner is derived from the word mythe, meaning 'myth'. It frames the lie as if the person is creating an entire legend or mythology.
- The verb mentir comes from the Latin mentīrī, which is a distant relative of the English word 'mental'. Both originally relate to the mind and the capacity for thought.
- The expression raconter des bobards uses a word that likely comes from the 19th-century slang for 'fake' or 'counterfeit' goods. It treats a lie as a cheap imitation of the truth.
Examples in context
- Elle a pu me mentir.She may have told me a lie.This sentence shows how to express a possibility regarding a lie using mentir.Tatoeba #400518 by trotter, translation #314136 by CK
- J'ai dû mentir à Tom.I had to lie to Tom.This sentence demonstrates the requirement of the preposition à when using mentir with a person.Tatoeba #5494547 by Aiji, translation #2331831 by CK
- Je n’aime pas mentir.I don't like to lie.This sentence expresses a personal dislike for the act of mentir.Tatoeba #9152920 by Julien_PDC, translation #8336399 by CK
- Je mensI lie
- Vous mentezYou lie
- Il/elle mentHe/she lies
- Nous mentonsWe lie
- Ils/elles mententThey lie
- Il a menti à son patron.He lied to his boss.
- 139 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Nathan and Chloé are talking about a secret.
- NathanPourquoi as-tu mentir à tes parents ?Why did you lie to your parents?
- ChloéJe ne voulais pas mentir, mais j'avais peur.I didn't want to lie, but I was afraid.
- NathanIl vaut mieux dire la vérité, Chloé.It is better to tell the truth, Chloé.
- ChloéTu as raison, Nathan. Je vais leur dire.You are right, Nathan. I will tell them.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “lie” translations and entries mentir, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mentir, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
